Self-aligning idler for conveyers and the like



Oct. 13, 1953 5; J. SPURGEON 2,655,252

SELF-ALIGNING IDLER FOR CONYEYERS AND THE LIKE Filed July 10, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

F i v I 5001051, J.5P(/160N I BY am array/v53 s. J. SPURGEON 2,655,252

SELF-ALIGNING IDLER FOR CONVEYERS AND THE LIKE Oct. 13, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, 1952 d a. 0 M 5 Patented Oct; 13, 1953 Samuel figgrgeo I ny n; Birmingham;

Ala.

Al nlitififi 0;, 1952,: S ri 53 10525 My present. i nfiiq ;v mis er-to: $312 at! Q i l ro or-b teon e erserth V i n h a o wh eh th s n entiea re atesh has e p d t mount therenre e dler one Plane, diag na ly O the elt. All! th i i idler, in Position to be. enga ed hr t e belt w the belt is in un eatered o sitloa t ere have been placed auxiliaryrollers. in such mocha nism. when the belts become uneentered re e ire to t main Idler it en a es the an, .lierv selleron the oft-center side. This, causes the entire t ame to p v n a, irection to sense the belt 29 run back to centered position! .In'prigr art devices the auxiliary rollers hare had lioihq itive means causing them to offeradded-resistanqe to; rotation when engaged by the belt, lfiklf i llh 11% usual problem relative to hearing: W919i 11% been present in connection with the mounting 0,1 51ml}v auxiliary rollers. It has been found th t i just as essential, in order to. assure long lite to the apparatus as a whole, that. the auxiliary rollers he provided with good seals. for the bearings; thereo} in the same manner as the main idler. In prior devices this has been a considerable problem and, insofar as I am aware has not been efie tive r met.

In view of the foregoing it is theprime. object or my invention toprovide a selfaaligning idlerhave ingauxiliary rollers at each endthereof, together with means to rotate the auxiliaryrollers 0111 positely to the direction of rotation of the idler. thus materially increasing the drag on the belt. when the same contacts sueh auxiliary roller, thereby causing a more positive rocking action or the idler frame to move it quickly and effectively toward a position to realign the belt.-

A more specific object is toprowideapparatus of the character designated in which the auxiliary I rollers are driven by means 'ofa planetary drive arrangement which may consist of gears on the like but which in preferred form consists of the inner and outer races of a ball bearing together with means to hold the balls therebetween against translatory movement in a circular path, wheres by the balls serve effectively" s s-toothless, non positively engaged planetary drive members; thus causing the outer race to rotate opposite to the inner race in the manner hereinafter more spew cificallyappearing.

A further specific object is to provide apparatus or the character designated in which the inner race of the ball bearing is mounted far ZOQQ'QIQIL with the idler and the outer rare amounted or r ma nitlle 1% V rs ta en the diree ioa at the r ewrw+w reteti e with the earn rro l-vet; the b held rota able est ar et enel a fi e between the reeesbh a shaman; retaine mounted Qt suitable part of the apparatus, for instance on aver i s a s er the aetitoe onhearmss at. he idler and Rlhfitfihifh hall 9 he e e r911 seeead s a mea w th the axle hi h i e ffie ire o sea e i2 e arr ba l. ea n an also to ereride er a e l e the id er bear n s m ee hen th h It t hus 9r ridin re esse terreee e, I which ee tests the outer s de. the buil s al o the wings.

Apparatus .uiustre iae teat-are o s inven time is s ee e i the aeeemeaeyihe d awings formin a p rt at th enrl eatiee in which;

iris-r 1 is the v ew P y broken 111 tratias envever b t eturn d er embody ng im roved aux iarv tee er n dler P e-r 21s deta s tional vie taken e eerellr alone line I; .-=-I 0t Fist 1; a

Fi s. an enl r d treem eta Pla V e of: one at the idler and eer lierr re ies-ass mblies. one end of the idler and the associated auxiliary roller bei in station; and

Pie- 4 is an end. ele ation iew of he r the; planeta all bearin m ster th view of Fig. 3 and the balls of the hearing beingind e eated in dotted L nes, 7

Ref rr ng new. t he drawings tor a b tter understandin or m invention and mo e 9% ieuiarlyto. Fi s.- and 2 I: show a belt It of; a belt conveyor which for the ureose o ill stret en may be. movin in the. direction o the arrow H, The belt [0 is supported on an idle; roll [1w ioh m be mounted an edite aoneretating; [3. Th ax e i3 is smoothed rash and o b Ma he e 14 and 16' in time mounted eat eemi a rose member it. ilhereem IT is Supper adi eeat ts ente on a t amsi i rasrneertedhy sate-firmware It,

. Mounted ie rote iea th manner Presently to be shown, adjacent each end of the idler l2 are auxiliary rollers 2|, both of which are identical and both of which are identically mounted as will later appear. In the manner later also to appear, in the event the belt becomes uncentered to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 it will be seen that its left hand edge engages the left hand one of the auxiliary rollers 2|. -As will be later explained, this tends to rock the entire frame I! to the position shown by the dot-dash line 22 in Fig. 1. When the belt contacts the opposite roller 2| the frame I! rocks the position shown by the dot-dash line 23. In either event, the belt re-centers itself and the frame I1 rocks back to normal position when the belt becomes disengaged from the rollers 2|.

Referring now more particulary to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the idler I2 is provided with a head 24. In view of the fact that each end of the idler and each of the auxiliary rollers 2| is identical, a description of one will suflice for both. The head 24 may be secured to the idler roll shell by forming over the end of the shell as indicated at 25.

The head 24 is provided with a bearing recess 21 having astop shoulder 28 at the inner end thereof. Fitting in the recess and with a side abutting the shoulder 28 is a sealing washer 29 having a portion 30 disposed with a close running fit about the stationary axle I3.

Fitting within the bearing recess 21 is the outer race 31 of an anti-fritcion bearing indicated generally by the numeral 32. The outer race is held against the inner side of the sealing washer 29 and the, inner race 33 thereof fits over the axle I3. In order to prevent rotation of the inner race relative to the axle 13 I may groove the axle as indicated at 34 and provide therein a ring 36 of rubberlike material. When the inner race 33 is slid over thering 36, the friction of the rubber holds the inner race against rotation. If desired, and as is customary, the bearing 32 may be provided with built in seals 31 and 38 thus to protect the balls 39 against the ingress of foreign matter and the'egress of lubricant. The bearing may be held non-slidable relative to the axle 13 by means of a locking ring 5| fitting in a groove 42 in the axle.

Projecting outwardly from the bearing recess of the head 24 is a sleeve 43 providing a seat 44 for the inner race 46 of another anti-friction bearing indicated generally by the numeral 41. At its inner end the seat 44 has avertical shoulder 48. The shoulder 48 may be provided with an annular groove disposed to receive a packing ring 49.

The inner race 45 of the bearing 41 is mounted on the seat 44 and is held thereon by means of a locking ring 52. The ring'52: holds the opposite edge of the inner race in sealing engagement with the ring 49.

The outer race 53 of the bearing 41 fits in the bore54 of the tapered shell 56 forming the major portion of the auxiliary roller 2l.' The bore of the tapered ring 55 may be provided with a stop shoulder 51 against which the inner edge of the outer race of the bearing 41 rests when as-' sembled therein.

Fitting adjacent the outer face of the ring 55 is an end plate 58 which has an inwardly projecting shoulder 59. Plate 58 is secured to the ring 55 by means of screws 65. The shoulder 59 may be grooved at 6| to receive a packing ring 62. The groove may be formed so that the ring contacts both the adjacent edge of the outer 4 race 53 of bearing 41 and the bore of the ring 56. The plate 58 is provided with a centrally disposed hole 63 in which fits a seal 64 having a portion 66 fitting with a close running fit about the axle l3.

Non-rotatably secured to the axle l3 by means of a key 61 is the boss 68 of a retainer indicated generally by the numeral 69 for holding the balls 41a of the bearing 41 against translatory movement between the races 46 and 53. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, the member 69 comprises a radial plate portion H formed integrally with the boss 68. Turned inwardly of the plate portion H are a plurality of spaced fingers I2 adapted to reecive between them the balls 4111.. Since the member 59 as a whole remains stationary it will be apparent that the individual balls 41a, while free, to rotate about their own centers, are nevertheless prevented from following the customary circular path when the outer race rotates relative to the inner race. The member 69 is held against movement longitudinal of the axle I 3 by means of a locking ring 13 placed in a groove I4 in the axle l3.

From the foregoing the method of constructing and using my improved self aligning idler may now be explained and understood. With the parts assembled in the manner shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing it will be apparent that if the idler 12 rotates in the direction indicated by the curved arrow 75, the two auxiliary rollers 21 rotate in an opposite direction. This is brought about due to the fact that the inner race 46 of bearing 41, being carried by the head 24 of the roll rotates the balls 41a in such manner as to drive the race 53 in the opposite direction. Since the race 53 is the part supporting and carrying the auxiliary roller it will be seen that the balls function somewhat as would gears in a planetary system. The spider-like member 59 having the fingers 12 between the balls holds them against following the outer race. Thus, while the inner surface of the balls goes in one direction, the outer surface rotates in the other. With the parts rotating oppositely in the manner illustrated, as soon as the belt In becomes uncentered itwill be seen that it engages one of the oppositely rotating rollers 2 I. This adds an additional drag upon the belt at that edge and accentuates the pivoting movement of the frame I! carrying the entire roll assembly. This has the effect of quickly realigning the belt. Further, due to the non-positive planetary action of the balls 41a, excessive wear on the edge of the belt is prevented when the same strikes one of the oppositely rotating auxiliary rollers 2|. However, and as previously stated, it is within the scope of my invention to employ some means to obtain opposite rotation of the rollers 2| other than the specific means'shown.

It will also be noted that the several spaces between the seals 29 and 54 may be filled with lubricant, thus to protect the seals 31 and 38 of the bearing 32 as well as to lubricate the bearing 41. While I have shown my invention associated with a flat, return idler, it is equally adapted for use on troughing idlers.

While I have shown my invention in but oneform, it will be obvious to those skilled in the.

placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

'l. The combination with a self-aligning idler for belt conveyors and the like wherein the idler has mounted adjacent each end auxiliary rollers disposed to be engaged by the belt when in uncentered position, of means supporting the auxiliary rollers from rotating portions of the idler, and means driven by the idler rotating the auxiliary rollers in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the idler.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means rotating the auxiliary rollers comprises a planetary friction drive connection between the idler and said rollers.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means driven by the idler and rotating the auxiliary rollers comprises anti-friction bearings having inner and outer races and anti-friction members therebetween, means holding the antifriction members translatably fixed but free for rotation between the races, means driving the inner races from the idler, and means mounting the auxiliary rollers on the outer races.

4. In an idler assembly for belt conveyors, a main belt supporting roll, anti-friction bearings having inner and outer races and balls therebetween with their inner races mounted on the ends of the main roll for rotation therewith, means holding the balls translatably fixed but free for rotation, and auxiliary rollers mounted on the outer races and disposed to be engaged by a conveyor belt when uncentered relative to the main idler.

5. In a self-aligning idler assembly for belt conveyors and the like, a main belt supporting idler, a non-rotatable supporting axle on which the idler is mounted for rotation, auxiliary rollers at each end of the main idler disposed to be contacted when the belt becomes uncentered relative to the main idler, anti-friction bearings for said auxiliary rollers embodying inner and outer races and rolling anti-friction members therebetween, means supporting the inner races from the adjacent ends of the main idler for rotation therewith, means supporting the auxiliary rollers from the outer races, means holding the anti-friction members translatably fixed but free for rotation between the races, and means mounting the entire assembly for pivotal movement diagonally of the belt.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the means holding the anti-friction members translatably fixed but free for rotation comprises a holding member secured non-rotatably to the axle, and portions on the holding member engaging the anti-friction members and holding them against bodily translatory movement between the respective races.

7. In an assembly of the character designated, a main conveyor belt idler having end heads, a stationary axle on which the idler is mounted for rotation, outstanding cylindrical extensions on the end heads, anti-friction bearings having inner and outer races and balls therebetween with the inner races thereof mounted non-rotatably on the extension, auxiliary rollers non rotatably mounted on the outer races of the bearings, a holding member secured non-rotatably to the axle and having fingers thereon entering between the balls and holding them translatably fixed but rotatable between the races, and lubricant seals between the auxiliary rollers and the stationary axle.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which lubricant seal means is provided at the point between the adjacent side of the inner race of the bearing supporting the auxiliary rollers and the head of the idler, and in which another lubricant seal is provided between the idler and said non-rotatable axle.

9. In an idler assembly for belt conveyors, a main belt supporting roll, anti-friction members mounted on the ends of the main roll for rotation therewith, and auxiliary rollers operatively connected to and driven by said anti-friction members in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the idler, said auxiliary roller being disposed to be engaged by a conveyor belt when uncentered relative to the main idler.

SAMUEL J.v SPURGEON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 270,718 Albey Jan. 16, 1883 2,570,364 Mercier Oct. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 623,329 Great Britain May 16, 1949 

